Building containing acetylene-gas-generating apparatus.



No. 696,2I9. Patented Mar. 25, I902.-

P. WILLEMAIN.

BUILDING CONTAINING AGETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Aug. 23, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I. FIG 'I FIE 2 ,6 Q

Patented Mar. 25, I902.

P. WILLEMAIN. BUILDING CONTAINING ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Aug. 23, 1901.) (No Model.)

2 Shaets-$heet 2.

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UNITED. STATES P TENT O FIQE.

PAUL IVILLEMAIN, OF M'ULHOUSE, GERMANY.

BUILDING CONTAINING ACETYLENE-GAS-GENERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,219, dated March25, 1902.

Application filed August 23, 1901.- Serial No.

To all whom, it may concern..- I

Be it' known that 1, PAUL WILLEMAIN, a citizen of'the French Republic,residing at Mulhouse, Alsace, Germany, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Buildings Oontainin gAcetylene-Gas-Generatin gApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention which forms the subject of this application has for itsobject to prevent in places containing one or more apparatuses forgenerating acetylene gas the direct contact of a light carried by aperson desiring to enter the place with any gas which may have escapedinto the air through a leak or the like from the apparatus or from acock inadvertently left open.

To this end the invention comprises a large shuttered opening in theroof or in the upper part of one of the side walls of the roomcontaining the acetylene apparatus and a device for bolting the door ofthe room in its closed position, these two devices being connected insuch a manner that the unbolting of the door to permit of entrance intothe room si multaneously opens the said shutter, thereby allowing anygas which may be present in the room to escape before a-person canenter. With this construction it becomes impossible for a personcarrying a light in his hand to enter the room While it containsexplosive gases, so that the disastrous explosions so often occasionedby carelessness or inattention of the attendant or attendants in havinga light in the hand are avoided.

The diagrammatic drawings annexed hereto illustrate by way of exampleone mode of carrying out the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 a sideelevation, and Fig. 3a plan, of the closed building. Fig. 4 is a Viewsimilar to Fig. 1, but showing the gas-outlet and air-inlet open. Fig. 5is a sectional elevation showing the gas-outlet and air-inlet open. Fig.6 is aside elevation similar to Fig. 2, but showing the gas-outlet andthe door open, the lockingor bolting plate being seen detached. Fig. 7is a detail view, on a larger scale, showing the locking-plate open.

A is a building or room inclosing an apparatus B for generatingacetylene gas, Fig. 5. In the roof of this building or room there is73,015. (No model.)

formed a large opening a, normally closed by a' shutter b, which isprovided with rods carrying adjustable counterweights c. To the shutterb there are hinged two rods f, which pass down on the outside of thebuilding and ,on either side of the door.D of the same,

which said door opens outwardly, the lower ends of the said rodsengaging two pins g, fixed to an outer bolt-plate G, carried in pivotsin two fixed supports 7L and arranged in front of an opening cl on thelower part of the door D. When the latter is bolted, the plate G closesthe opening d, being held applied against the door D by a catch is,pivoted to the said door. In this position of the boltplate the shutter11 is held closed, being retained by the rods f against the action ofthe counterweights c, which tend to open it. The different parts of theinstallation then are in the position indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 ofthe drawings.

When it is desired to enter the building, the catch is turned todisengage the boltplate, which under the action of the counter- .weightsis swung on the pivots m, and thereby uncloses the opening at of thedoor. At the same time the shutter b is opened and a current of air isconsequently set up, the said air entering through the opening d andissuing through the opening a, so as to remove any gas which may haveescaped into the interior of the building from a leak or any othercause. The door is still closed, and to open it the rods f are unhookedfrom the pins 9 and the bolt-plate is removed by withdrawing its pivotsfrom the support it to enable it to be moved away from the inlet. Figs.4, 5, and 6 explain the mode of unbolting the door. To again bolt thedoor D, the bolt-plate g is replaced in position, its pivots beinginserted in'the supports h. The rods f are then hooked upon the pins 9and the plate G raised and applied against the door and fixed by thecatch 70. The shutter b follows this movement of the plate G, beingconnected to it by the rods f, so that it is closed.

In the case where the closing of the shutter 1) and of the plate G wouldbe difficnlt by reason of the counterweights a lever (indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 7) may be utilized to facilitate this operation,the said lever being arranged so as to be removable at will. A cord orchain 1), Fig. 5, passing over a guide formed in the shutter 1), enablesthe latter to be closed. from the interior of the building. Furthermore,the unbolting of the door can be made more easy and more rapid byapplying other suitable mechanism; but the arrangement shown in thedrawing is to be preferred for the simple reason that the persondesiring to enter the building is forced to remove the bolt-plate,andtherefore to give sufficient time for the gas to completely escape.

It is obvious that the opening for the escape of the gas can also bemade in the upper part of the walls of the building, the connectionbetween the closing-shutter and the plate or other bolting device beingthen effected, for example, bya system of suitable levers.

The opening at of the door D may be furnished with a sheet of fine gauzed, Fig. 7, to prevent the flame passing to the interior of the buildingbefore the door is opened.

I claim- 1. Means for avoiding explosion in a building or roomcontaining one or more acetylenegas-generatin g apparatus, comprising alar e shuttered opening in the upper part of tne building or roomcontaining the acetylene apparatus, a device for locking theentrancedoor into the room in its closed position and a deviceconnecting the said bolting device to the shutter of the aforementionedopening in such a manner that the unbolting of the door to give accessto the room simultaneously opens the shutter to allow the escape of anygas which may have collected in the room before a person can entertherein.

2. Means for avoiding explosion in a buildin gor room containing one ormore acetylenegenerating apparatus comprising a large shuttered openingin the upper part of the room containing the acetylene apparatus and adevice for bolting the doorin its closed position comprising a pivot-plate connected to the hinged shutter of the escape-opening and placedin front of an opening (1 in the lower part of the door in such a mannerthat to open the latter it is necessary to unclose the opening d in thedoor and thus to cause acurrent of air to pass through the room toassist the escape of the gas from the said room.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 13th day ofAugust, 1901, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL WILLEMAIN.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. GIFFORD, AMAND BITTER.

